"Similar-Self" vs. "Alt-Self": How Avatar Customization Impacts Trust Formation in Social VR and Its Transfer to Face-to-Face between Unacquainted Individuals

Paper Title

"'Similar-Self' vs. 'Alt-Self': How Avatar Customization Impacts Trust Formation in Social VR and Its Transfer to Face-to-Face between Unacquainted Individuals"

Publication Info

• Topic area: Trust formation in social VR and its transfer to face-to-face interactions.
• Keywords: Social VR, avatar customization, trust formation, face-to-face interaction, virtual reality, interpersonal trust, identity signaling, trust transfer, unacquainted individuals, mixed-methods study.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Existing research lacks understanding of how trust formed in social VR translates to face-to-face (FtF) interactions, especially when avatars are customized to resemble the user ("Similar-Self") or represent alternative identities ("Alt-Self").
• Significance: As social VR becomes a common entry point for interpersonal engagement, understanding trust dynamics across virtual and physical contexts is critical for designing systems that foster meaningful connections.
• Motivation and related work: Prior studies on trust in VR focus on scripted avatars or virtual agents, neglecting organic human interactions. Research on avatar customization highlights its role in shaping first impressions, but its long-term impact on trust transfer remains unclear. This study addresses these gaps by exploring trust formation and its persistence across VR and FtF contexts.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A mixed-methods study examining how avatar customization ("Similar-Self" vs. "Alt-Self") influences trust formation in social VR and its subsequent transfer to FtF interactions.
• Novelty:
  1. Investigates trust dynamics across VR and FtF contexts using both self-reported and behavioral measures.
  2. Explores the impact of avatar customization on initial trust perceptions and long-term trust transfer.
  3. Provides insights into designing social VR systems that support trustworthy interactions across virtual-physical boundaries.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Participants (N = 48) were randomly assigned to "Similar-Self" or "Alt-Self" conditions.
  • Interaction stages included VR observation, VR interaction, FtF observation, FtF interaction, and a one-week follow-up.
  • Trust was measured using a customized Trust Assessment Survey (TAS) and a behavioral trust game.
  • Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis captured qualitative insights.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • "Similar-Self" avatars led to higher initial integrity-based trust perceptions (p = .031).
  • Trust increased significantly during VR interactions for both conditions (p < .001).
  • Trust formed in VR carried over to FtF interactions, with further increases observed during FtF meetings (p < .001).
  • Trust remained stable at the one-week follow-up, with no significant decline in self-reported or behavioral measures.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • "Similar-Self" avatars provided a more stable trust baseline compared to "Alt-Self" avatars, particularly for integrity-based trust.
  • Interaction quality (e.g., reciprocal conversation) played a more significant role in trust development than avatar appearance.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Participants engaged in structured interactions (e.g., icebreakers, Fast Friends protocol) across VR and FtF contexts.
  • Trust was assessed using Likert-scale surveys and investment decisions in a trust game.
  • Data analysis included ART ANOVA for quantitative measures and thematic analysis for qualitative data.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited to short-term, low-stakes interactions in a controlled lab setting.
  • Homogeneous sample (Chinese young adults) restricts generalizability.
  • Fixed VR-to-FtF sequence and bundled manipulations (appearance and voice) limit causal inferences.
  • Future work should explore diverse samples, longitudinal designs, and richer VR environments.

Summary

This study examines how avatar customization in social VR influences trust formation and its transfer to FtF interactions. While "Similar-Self" avatars improved initial integrity-based trust, trust development was primarily driven by conversational quality and stable vocal cues. Trust formed in VR carried over to FtF meetings, where it further increased due to richer non-verbal cues. Trust remained stable one week later, suggesting lasting impressions. These findings highlight the importance of structured interactions and coherent identity signaling in fostering trust across virtual and physical contexts. Design implications include scaffolding early trust, enhancing responsiveness, and supporting identity continuity to bridge VR and FtF interactions.